Nathamuni here does not mean Nathamuni theatre in North Madras, it refers to Sri Nathamunigal, who compiled the entire Nalaayira Dhivya Prabandham with the blessings of Perumal of Kattumannargudi.
It is an interesting thing to recollect how I got introduced to the magical world of Prabandham. I vividly remember my appa giving me a souvenir (and I still preserve it) that was published during the Samprokshanam of Srirangam temple (along with the new Rayar Gopuram) during 1988 when MGR was the Chief Minister. It had the colour photo of moolavar Ranganathar as the front cover and details of all pasurams that were sung on Him. I had been to Srirangam when I was 1-1/2 years old to attend my mama's marriage - I remember only a few picture moments of that trip (the chathram, playing with the bicycles parked outside, appa and mama buying a lot of fruits at Ramanathapuram station enroute Rameswaram with me sitting inside the train and they placing them near me through the window!). I do not remember anything on the visit to the temple, the first trip to SRGM that I remember very well was the next one that we did during 2000.
Back to the book - there were three places that drew my attention (I was studying 9th standard then):
1. The thaniyan of Thirumaalai - it had a foot note that said if the thaniyan is read as 'thondaradipodiyemperumanai', then the 'veNseer venDhaLai' of Tamil grammar is not met. It was that time that I was developing an interest toward Tamil grammar and this kindled an interest in me to explore.
2. The font/typeset of the word 'amalanaadhipiraan' - how the letter 'naa' was printed - it was using the old school font that draws a monkey tail to the 'naa' instead of an additional 'leg' to it. I found it to be extremely curious-enough that even as of date, I write only using old tamil font pattern ('nai', 'lai', 'naa', 'nu' etc).
3. The first pasuram of Thirumalai - 'kaavalil pulanai vaithu'. The words used by Thondaradipodi Azhwar were so powerful and mesmerizing that it actually pulls into a surreal world.
This was the initial trigger followed by a reading of 'Aazhwargal oru eLiya arimugam' book by Sujata. It drew me completely into the magical world of Prabandham. It was then followed by visits to Divyadesams (count stands at 97 as of date), reading interesting tit-bits about Aazhwars, analyzing grammatical patterns in pasurams, getting drowned in the structure of 'Thiru ezhukootrirukkai', MLV's Thiruppavai renditions... and the list goes on! Quite frankly, I know Prabandham to an extent where if I jalli-adichufy, a normal person will open his/her mouth in awe.
I then found a companion at office too - TRN, with whom I usually get my 'doubts' clarified. He has learnt the sandhai version of Prabandham and clarifies a lot of questions that I get while analyzing pasurams. I had even compiled an excel sheet with details of all divyadesams (way back in 2003 when I first bought a computer at home) - it so happened that once in a Sudharsana homam that TRN had attended, the hosts were distributing print outs of that excel file to participants saying 'some one has done this good work'!!
If you are really have an interest in Tamil (not literary - just beginner level), I would suggest that you read (and feel the delight) the following pasurams as a starter:
1. 'theeyil poliginRa' - Pallandu 7th pasuram by Periazhwar
2. 'Ongi ulagalandha' - Thiruppavai 3rd pasuram by Andal
3. 'karuppooram naarumo?' - Nachiyar Thirumozhi by Andal
4. 'ninnaye thaan vendi' - Kulasekarar in 'Tharuthuyaram thadaayel', 9th pasuram
5. 'aasai vazhuvathethum' - Thirumangai Azhwar in 'Nummai thozhudhom' 4th pasuram
6. 'uyarvara uyarnalam' - Nammazhwar
7. 'virperu vizhavum' - Thirumangai Azhwar, on Thiruvallikkeni
This is like creeping to peep out of a cliff in the Grand Canyon - you will slowly discover the grandeur yourself over a period of time.
-Aravi.
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